A Wonderful & Rare Bronze Minoan Era Spear of Pre Ancient Greek Antiquity, Around 4000 Years Old. It Was Already At Least 1700 Years Old when Alexander The Great Began His Expedition to Conquer the Known World

Examples similar have been found elsewhere in Cyprus and Crete from the same era. Three similar were discovered some years ago in Vounous, Cyprus dated around 2300-2000 BC from the tomb 78 of the ancient cemetery in Vounous.

These kind of spear heads have a tang, ending in a hook, which was fixed into the wood. The blade was than further secured to the wood shaft by a wrap of laching cord.

Minoan Crete, named after the legendary King Minos, was ruled from great palaces, most of which were founded around 2000 BC. Material from the palace of Knossos is displayed in the British Museum, along with pottery, bronzes and stone vases from elsewhere in Crete, including from tombs and shrines. There is also evidence for writing in the form of the undeciphered Linear A script. The later Greek Bronze Age is named after Mycenae, the capital city of Agamemnon who according to myth led the Greeks at the siege of Troy. Mycenaean culture extended throughout mainland Greece, the Aegean islands and Crete. The Greek language is first recorded in this period in the Linear B script derived from Minoan Crete. Following the collapse of this civilisation in the 12th century BC, Greece entered a period of relative poverty and isolation when writing was forgotten. During this time, stories about the grand lifestyles of Mycenaean rulers continued to be told, influencing later poets such as Homer, whose Iliad and Odyssey were set in what we call the Bronze Age. In the epic poem The Odyssey, the Greek poet Homer praised an island that lies “out in the wine-dark sea . . . a rich and lovely sea-girt land, densely peopled, with 90 cities and several different languages.” This sophisticated place is not just a random spot in the Mediterranean—Homer is describing Crete, southernmost of the Greek islands and home to one of the oldest civilizations in Europe. Located some 400 miles northwest of Alexandria in Egypt, Crete has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, around 7000 B.C. The culture that developed there during the second millennium B.C. spread throughout the entire eastern Mediterranean world. Crete’s command of the seas would allow its stunning art and architecture to deeply influence the Mycenaean Greek civilization that would succeed it. Photo in the gallery of a Bull’s head rhyton ritual pouring vessel from the palace at Knossos, c. 1550-1500 B.C.E., in black steatite, jasper, and mother-of-pearl, 26 cm high (Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, From a private collection formed in the Netherlands before the 1980's .

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading

20cm long spear head  read more

Code: 23582

An Incredible 1100 Year Old, Viking, Great Hewing Spear, a Hggspjt, A Viking Museum Piece. With Extremely Rare Norse 'Knotwork' Runic Engraving Still Present. A Powerful Spear of Incredible Heft

Made over 1000 years ago, and probably modelled on Odin's 'Great Hewing Spear' itself.

It is so rare to find an original Hggspjt Viking great spear, the spear of a Viking chief or his personal guard, with its original Norse knotwork engraving, and it is simply incredible to see it still clearly visible after more than a thousand years.

An original Hggspjt large head spear of a Viking Norse clan chief with superb Norse incised knotwork, as one might see on the legendary Gungnir, the Spear of Odin itself. {Old Norse, Gungnir }

Larger-headed spears were called Hggspjt, (great hewing spear), from Old Norse higg, "stroke, blow, slaughter, beheading", and could also be used for cutting. A two-handed grip on the spear shaft gives the Viking spear more power and usability than a one-hand grip. Both ends and the shaft of a Viking spear could be used to hit an opponent, block attacks with weapons, and even trip opponents. By shifting the hand hold on a spear shaft, the ends can be used to hit an opponent at short range and long range. With a sliding grip, a spear can be thrust forward in such a way that both hands end up at the butt end of the shaft, which allows the spear to reach the full extent of the shaft in a thrust. As you'd expect for the weapon of a god, Gungnir is no ordinary spear. It was created by the dwarves, the most skilled smiths in the cosmos, as is related in the tale of how the gods greatest treasures were made.
Gungnir is said to have runes carved on its point, which presumably increase its aim and deadliness through magic. Archaeology confirms that the Norse and other Germanic peoples did in fact carve runes into some of their spears; perhaps this was done in imitation of the mythical model of Gungnir. Other aspects of Gungnir definitely did serve as mythical models for human actions. This is especially true with regard to the spears role in human sacrifices offered to Odin.

In the war between the two tribes of gods, Odin led the Aesir gods into battle against the Vanir. He began the battle by hurling his spear over the enemy host and crying,

"INN YR ALLA !"
(Odin owns all of you!).

The historical Norse themselves, when about to begin combat, repeated this paradigmatic gesture of Odins, thus giving the opposing army as a gift to Odin, in hopes that the god would return the favour by granting them victory.

In the Viking Age, Odin was the chief of the gods, a role which in earlier times he had shared with the god Tyr. Just as Tyr's sword seems to have been a symbol of the power and authority of lordship (we can infer this from the number of Indo-European parallels), so Odin's spear probably was as well. Gungnir, the finest spear in the cosmos, and it would have served as a compelling image of the ferocious might, both magical and military, of the grim ruler of the gods.

In regards to surviving iron artefacts of the past two millennia, if Western ancient edged weapons were either lost, discarded or buried in the ground, and if the ground soil were made up of the right chemical composition, then some may survive exceptionally well, just as did this one, and if well conserved it can be a remarkable item of antiquity looking much as it did before it was lost millennia ago.
Former property of an English gentleman's collection, acquired in the 1940's.

13.5 inches long and over one and a half pounds in weight {340mm and 700 grams}.

Almost every iron weapon that has survived today from this era, is now in a fully, or partially, russetted condition, as is this one, and most similar to those like it that have been preserved in national or Royal collections today .

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading  read more

Code: 21880

Incredibly Rare To Survive, 2000 Years Old, Original, Republic & Imperial Roman Military, Legionary's or Centurion's Lorica Squamatae Mail Armour 1st Century

These are small integral pieces of original Roman combat armour, that once discovered have to be recognised for their rarity by such as an archaeologist or ancient Roman military historian or they would never be saved for history, and very likely discarded. Which would be one of the primary reasons that they are so very rare, that, and also because they are thin small plates that have to be originally lost in the correct organic surroundings within which to survive the past two millennia relatively intact.

A super, small collection of original, historical, Imperial Roman, Viking and Crusader's artefacts has just been acquired by us and will be added over the next week or so. Only the third such group of original Roman armour we have seen in 15 years.
A small section panel of an incredibly rare, original Roman military armour mail shirt, around 2000 years old, small pieces but exceptionally historically significant. They would look amazing if nicely framed. Used by both regular Roman Legionaries and high ranking Centurions, Lorica squamata was a scale armour, looking like the skin of a fish. Items such as this were oft acquired in the 18th century by British noblemen touring Northern France and Italy on their Grand Tour. Originally placed on display in the family 'cabinet of curiosities', within his country house upon his return home. A popular pastime in the 18th and 19th century, comprised of English ladies and gentlemen traveling for many months, or even years, througout classical Europe, acquiring antiquities and antiques for their private collections.
A shirt of scale armour would be put on with side or rear lacing and reach to the mid-thigh. The lorica squamatae is a type of scale armour used by the ancient Roman military during the Roman Republic and at later periods. It was made from small metal scales sewn to a fabric backing.

It is typically seen on depictions of standard bearers, musicians, centurions, cavalry troops, and auxiliary infantry, as well as regular legionaries. The somewhat historically inaccurate Roman victory triumph depicting Trajan's victory over the Dacians, the Tropaeum Traiani, shows the majority of legionaries wearing loricae squamatae. A shirt of scale armour was shaped in the same way as a mail lorica hamata, mid-thigh length with the shoulder doublings or cape.

The individual scales (squamae) were either iron or bronze, or alternating metals on the same shirt. They could be tinned as well, one surviving fragment showing bronze scales that were alternately tinned and plain. The metal was generally not very thick, 0.50 mm to 0.80 mm (.020" to .032") perhaps being a common range. Since the scales overlapped in every direction, however, the multiple layers gave good protection. The size ranged from as small as 6.3 mm wide by 9.5 mm tall (1/4" ? 3/8") up to about 5 cm wide by 8 cm tall (2" ? 3"), with the most common sizes being roughly 1.3 cm by 2.5 cm (1/2" ? 1"). Many have rounded bottoms, while others are pointed or have flat bottoms with the corners clipped off at an angle. The scales could be flat, or slightly domed, or have a raised midrib or edge. All the scales in a shirt would generally be of the same size; however, scales from different shirts may vary significantly.

The scales were wired or laced together in horizontal rows that were then laced or sewn to the backing. Therefore, each scale had from four to 12 holes: two or more at each side for wiring to the next in the row, one or two at the top for fastening to the backing, and sometimes one or two at the bottom to secure the scales to the backing or to each other.

There was also a rare type where the backing was a mail lorica hamata, effectively giving two layers of defence, but at the cost of greater weight and expense.

It is possible that the shirt could be opened either at the back or down one side so that it was easier to put on, the opening being closed by ties. Much has been written about scale armour's supposed vulnerability to an upward thrust, but this may be exaggerated.

No examples of an entire lorica squamata have ever been found, but there have been several archaeological finds of very small fragments of such shirts, and individual scales.

The type of armour in which the scales are laced to each other and need no backing at all is known as lamellar armour, while to confuse the matter there is also locking scale in which the scales are wired together without a backing. It can be difficult to tell which type of armour a single scale might have come from, as the Romans did not necessarily have different terms for each type. The typical scale had a vertical pair of holes at each side near the top, plus one or two holes at the top. These armour scales would look superb put together and framed in a display. They are individualy quite small and partially fragmented but easily dwarfed by their historical interest, rarity and significance. Their size and unusual appearance explains much why they are so rarely found, as they are easily corrupted by the centuries once buried, and only identifiable by those that know exactly what they are, thus easily discarded if discovered by the uninformed. As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity.  read more

Code: 23017

Another Fabulous Christmas Gift Idea. A Superb Pair of Regency Silhouette Portraits of a Scottish Lady and Gentleman, Possibly by George Atkins

Circa 1815 to 1830 British School. The gentleman is holding his fouling piece, and wearing a kilt. The lady is holding what appears to be her prayer book. Both silhouettes are hand cut black paper aplied to an off-white card backing, emphasized with gold shadow highlights. Original Regency rosewood frames. A silhouette is the image of a person, animal, object or scene represented as a solid shape of a single colour, usually black, with its edges matching the outline of the subject. The interior of a silhouette is featureless, and the silhouette is usually presented on a light background, usually white, or none at all. The more expensive versions could have a gold highlight such as these have. The silhouette differs from an outline, which depicts the edge of an object in a linear form, while a silhouette appears as a solid shape. Silhouette images may be created in any visual artistic media, but were first used to describe pieces of cut paper, which were then stuck to a backing in a contrasting colour, and often framed.

Cutting portraits, generally in profile, from black card became popular in the mid-18th century, though the term silhouette was seldom used until the early decades of the 19th century, and the tradition has continued under this name into the 21st century. They represented an effective alternative to the portrait miniature, and skilled specialist artists could cut a high-quality bust portrait, by far the most common style, in a matter of minutes, working purely by eye. Other artists, especially from about 1790, drew an outline on paper, then painted it in, which could be equally quick.

From its original graphic meaning, the term silhouette has been extended to describe the sight or representation of a person, object or scene that is backlit, and appears dark against a lighter background. Anything that appears this way, for example, a figure standing backlit in a doorway, may be described as "in silhouette". Because a silhouette emphasises the outline, the word has also been used in the fields of fashion and fitness to describe the shape of a person's body or the shape created by wearing clothing of a particular style or period. 10.5 x 12.5 inches framed. Picture in the gallery of a drawing a Silhouette by Johann Rudolph Schellenberg (1740?1806). Light staining to the gentlemans white backing paper.  read more

Code: 23078

What a Superb Antique Christmas Gift Idea. A Pair of Simply Delightful Original Victorian Royal Mail Coaching Prints in Fine Rosewood Veneer Frames

With their original and super old retailer's labels of the most distinguished Arthur Ackerman Gallery of Fine Arts, 191 Regent St. London, W. A charming pair of original Victorian coloured prints in fine quality frames. 6.75 inches x 8.75 inches framed In the 18th century travel was hazardous to all. Highwaymen stalked the roads and those leading into London were said to be ‘infested’ with robbers. Romantic tales of masked, gallant gentleman were far from the truth: highwaymen were ruthless and deadly.
On 4 December 1775, a Norwich stagecoach was attacked by a gang of seven highwaymen. The guard shot three robbers before being killed and the coach robbed. Richard ‘Dick’ Turpin, a famous highwayman of the time, was known to torture his victims and would even kill one of his companions to aid his own escape.

‘… recommending the Guarding of all the Horse Mails, as a measure of national importance to which the Public in some degree conceived themselves entitled…’

Francis Freeling, Resident Surveyor, 14th March 1796
A plan was written to guard all horse mails, which included the arming of all guards. In doing so the Post Office would not only secure the vast property conveyed by horse, but also save the expenses incurred in prosecuting a robber. Furthermore, it would maintain regularity of service and eliminate what was seen as a disgrace to both the Office and to the nation.

Surveyors observed that the revenue lost to robbery was twice the sum it would cost to guard the mail: it was the obvious choice. In 1784, John Palmer introduced the first mail coach from Bristol to London. This faster and well-armed postal service proved to be a great deterrent to robbers, as they risked being shot or, if caught, tried and hanged. The first recorded robbery of a mail coach did not occur until 25 July 1786.

A letter to joint Postmaster Generals asking for the establishment of a regional mail coach was signed by over 100 people, whose businesses had been damaged due to the frequency of robberies. Mail coaches were a better way of securing the post’s safe passage, though there are a few recorded instances of attempted robberies even of them.

In January 1816, an Enniskillen coach was attacked and robbed by a gang of 14 men who had barricaded the road. The guards fired off all of their ammunition but the mail bags and weapons were all stolen. the Mail Guard was issued with a a pair of flintlock pistols  read more

Code: 16969

A Very Good WW2 1942 German Infantry Fur Backed Tornistor Back-Pack

In very good condition overall, maker stamped and dated 1942 by Lunschloss. This cowhide-covered rucksack was known as the Tornister 34 (developed in 1934) and was later fitted with new style straps in 1939. As the war progressed the design was simplified for economical and practical reasons so the cowhide cover was eliminated making these packs especially scarce on today's collector market.

The M39 has one vertical loop with quick release sewn at the bottom of the front flap for retaining the A-frame and comes with or without carrying straps. Troops that were isssued infantry Y-straps received the version without carrying straps (replaced by two hooks), while troops with no Y-straps received the version with carrying straps.
All of them were produced with a fur front flap (and some without fur) and it was called "Affe" in the German Army  read more

Code: 22105

Roman Key Ring, A Bronze Amulet-Ring Key. 1st to 3rd Century A.D.Around 1900 to 1800 Years Old. Worn From The Period of Emperors Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, & Commodus

Ancient Roman bronze key ring, an intriguing piece of functional jewellery.

For lack of pockets in their togas, the ancient Romans often wore keys to important boxes, etc on their fingers. The most intriguing items of Roman security hardware seem to be keys and lock bolts. Keys were used mainly for doors, chests, boxes, caskets, cupboards and padlocks. Less often they were used for ceremonial or decorative purposes, such as matron keys, jewelry items and votive offerings.

It is alleged that some ring keys were worn by women as symbols of household authority, as "keeper of the keys". This is probably true, but such are difficult to identify as having served that purpose. The wooden Egyptian pin tumbler locks were over two thousand years old by this time. Roman engineers modernized them and other lock constructions by replacing the wooden parts with corresponding parts made of metal.

The clumsy Egyptian pin tumbler locks were transformed into elegant Roman pin tumbler locks of steel, fitted with an ingenious Roman invention, steel springs. The locks were often tiny masterpieces in terms of both precision and design. All Roman door locks can only be opened from one side. There were illustrations in Le case e monumenti di Pompeii, four volumes by Fausto and Felice Niccolini, printed in Naples in 1854–96. Another author, Albert Neuburger, used the same images in his book on ancient technology, Die Technik des Altertums, printed in Leipzig in 1921. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried in ash when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, and were eventually forgotten.
Likely worn over the first knuckle before the second, knuckle position, or around the neck as an amulet

Illustrations in Technik des Altertums. Reconstruction of a Roman pin tumbler door lock of metal, inside and outside, and an example of a key. Deutsches Museum, Munich. The first reconstruction of this lock was made by Louis Jacobi (1836–1910) for the Saalburg Museum north of Frankfurt.

For example; With regards to some expert conservation methods of bronze objects {and some other materials} The dirt from the surface of the object could be removed manually using a scalpel under magnification. Care would be taken not to dislodge the powdery, corroding surface. Where the surface was in particualrly bad condition the dirt will be left in situ and small areas might be locally consolidated using 2.5% HMG Paraloid B72 (methyl ethyl methacrlylate) in 50:50 Acetone (propan-1-one/dimethyl ketone) and Industrial methylated spirits (ethanol,methanol).  read more

Code: 25466

Superb, 1908 Pattern, Historical, British Cavalry Trooper's Sword by Mole & Wilkinson Sword Co. Issue of 1909. British Front Line Cavalry Issue, & 1918 Australian Light Horse Issue, Original 1918 Australian Light Horse Service Issue Buff Hide Sword Knot

Just returned from the workshop after 40 hours of expert hand polishing and conservation in order to return it, as close as possible, to its original issue bright polish finish. It revealed after all that expert effort it has just natural age wear and surface patination, and with no damage signs at all. It is now transformed back into its excellent condition for its age. We pride ourselves for the use of our expert conservation and restoration artisans, that are some of the very best available in the country, some expertly trained for over 40 years. Many types of conservation skills are now sadly lost, but some are still maintained, with no expense spared attitude in order to preserve historical artefacts for generations to come.

With many original ordnance inspection stamps still present, an the earliest is {'09} 1909, with several others, {'14} 1914, {'17} 1917, {'24} 1924, {'36}1936. It still has its original WW1 Australian issue buff hide sword knot still attached, by Hepburn, Gale & Ross Ltd. The knot also shows over 100 years of completely natural aging and darkening, yet still retains its great condition. The Australian service pattern issue knot differed somewhat from the standard British service issue leather knot.

Early British army regimental markings on the inner bowl, for the British front line regiments to which it was issued in 1909, and thus used at the outbreak of the war and through to the end of 1917, but its early war regimental markings were later struck out for its later war re-issue to the Australian Light Horse in 1918. No Australian Light Horse issue swords ever bore any Australian issue markings {certainly none that been found so far}. Likely as they were issued straight to the regiments direct at the front line in Turkey, and never went to the Australian ordnance until after the war.

One of the earliest issued examples of the 1908 trooper's sword, issued and used by British front rank cavalry, lancers and hussars from 1914, right through 1914,15,16,17, until it was re-issued and sent to Australian forces in 1918, as a WW1 Australian service, Australian Light Horse 1908 trooper's sword.
All the Australian issued swords came in 1918 to units in the Middle East and came from most British and Canadian cavalry units who were eventually dismounted in the trenches and had no further need for swords. The Australian regiment mostly used the 1908's in 1918 for routing entrenched Turkish forces positions. Before the availability of the swords the cavalry famously used their 1907 pattern hook quillon bayonets.

In its earliest service, it would have seen service with, for example, such as the 6th Dragoon Guards. In August 1914, the 6th D.G, deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. It served throughout the First World War (1914-18) on the Western Front, fighting in many engagements in both a mounted and infantry role. These included Mons (1914), the Marne (1914), the first two battles of Ypres (1914 and 1915), the Somme (1916), Arras (1917), Cambrai (1917) and Amiens (1918). 6 DG remained as mounted cavalry throughout the war, but there were occasions, notably during March/April 1918, when they did duty in the trenches or helped stem an attack. For these occasions they were dismounted temporarily. An original sword as can be seen used to incredible effect in the magnificent epic, by Steven Spielberg, 'Warhorse'. An antique original issue trooper's sword with full ordnance markings, used in the frontline British cavalry regiments during WW1. A current Cavalry pattern still used today by all forms of the current British Cavalry. Considered to be the best designed cavalry sword ever made. In exceptionally good condition, a superb collector's item from the finest cavalry in the world. Steel bowl with inner part still with original darkening present. Its steel scabbard is superb, as is its traditional service issue hardened rubber grip with crosshatching. Early in WW1, cavalry skirmishes occurred on several fronts, and horse-mounted troops were widely used for reconnaissance. Britain's cavalry were trained to fight both on foot and mounted, but most other European cavalry still relied on the shock tactic of mounted charges. There were isolated instances of successful shock combat on the Western Front, where cavalry divisions also provided important mobile fire-power. Beginning in 1917, cavalry was deployed alongside tanks and aircraft, notably at the Battle of Cambrai, where cavalry was expected to exploit breakthroughs in the lines that the slower tanks could not. At Cambrai, troops from Great Britain, Canada, India and Germany participated in mounted actions. Cavalry was still deployed late in the war, with Allied cavalry troops harassing retreating German forces in 1918 during the Hundred Days Offensive, when horses and tanks continued to be used in the same battles. In comparison to their limited usefulness on the Western Front, "cavalry was literally indispensable" on the Eastern front and, in the Middle East, & Turkey.  read more

Code: 25527

A Very Fine Superior, Very Likely Gendaito, Traditional Hand Made Japanese Officer's Sword. Signed Tanigawa Ichishin Saku In Fabulous Condition

The blade tang is signed by the maker, and appears to be handmade in the traditional fashion from the 1930's.

The blade on this example was hand forged, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 谷 川 一 心, that read as Tanigawa Ichishin saku {Tanigawa Ichishin made this}
Research indicates that this smith's real name was 谷川 慶治 - Tanigawa Keiji, so in this case "Tanigawa" was his family name, and "Ichishin" his "swordsmith name." We have seen many other smiths sign their swords in this fashion. His name appears in the Seki Tanrensho Book printed in 1939. Ichishin was active during the Showa Period and worked at Seki arsenal in Gifu, with that stamp on the nakago, Mino Province (美濃国), and look to have made both arsenal forged and traditional blades. The signature is his tradtional type.

The stunning blade appears handmade and was expertly crafted by the sword smith. The mekugi-ana hole in the tang is punched and not drilled, {typical for handmade blades for ichishin}. it has a beautifully visible temper line {hamon} on the fabulous blade.

The blade is is stunning condition, and signed on the tang by the maker "the Mei".the Blade has a fine yokote at the tip, kissaki, with a boshi (tip temper line).

It has a traditional lacquered saya bound in field service combat leather. The tsuka is a traditional katana type with fine patinated Higo school iron fuchi kashira engraved with crashing waves in turbulant seas. the tsuba is a plain Higo School mokko form tettsu {iron} plate with five hammered Kiri mon, the Imperial mon of Japan.
Under the original silk tsuka-ito are tettsu menuki of tageha {arrow} in a yabira yazutsu {quiver}.

This is a superior quality sword for likely a higher ranked officer of the IJN due to its mounting that is of completely traditional samurai form, with simply a leather field service protective combat cover on its saya that still has its kurigata.

The IJN launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 Americans and crippling the US Pacific Fleet. During the first six months of the Pacific War, the IJN enjoyed spectacular success inflicting heavy defeats on Allied forces. Allied navies were devastated during the Japanese conquest of Southeast Asia. Japanese naval aircraft were also responsible for the sinkings of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse which was the first time that capital ships were sunk by aerial attack while underway. In April 1942, the Indian Ocean raid drove the Royal Navy from South East Asia.

In 1943, the Japanese also turned their attention to the defensive perimeters of their previous conquests. Forces on Japanese held islands in Micronesia were to absorb and wear down an expected American counteroffensive. However, American industrial power become apparent and the military forces that faced the Japanese in 1943 were overwhelming in firepower and equipment. From the end of 1943 to 1944 Japan's defensive perimeter failed to hold.

The defeat at the Philippine Sea was a disaster for Japanese naval air power with American pilots terming the slanted air/sea battle the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, mostly going in the favour of the US,126 while the battle of Leyte Gulf led to the destruction of a large part of the surface fleet. During the last phase of the war, the Imperial Japanese Navy resorted to a series of desperate measures, including a variety of Special Attack Units which were popularly called kamikaze. By May 1945, most of the Imperial Japanese Navy had been sunk and the remnants had taken refuge in Japan's harbours. By July 1945, Nagato was the only remaining ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy's capital ships that had not been sunk in raids by the United States Navy.

The blade is in excellent plus condition, overall 37.5 inches long in saya, blade tsuba to tip 26.5 inches long. the saya also excellent, the tsuba, fuchi kashira are similarly excellent plus. The original blue tsuka ito silk wrap is aged and with small frays as usual for age.  read more

Code: 25528

A Fine Edo Period 17th Cent. Samurai Armour Gosuko, Dangae dou Part Suit of Armour. Shown With A Kabuto For Display Only, {Kabuto Now Sold}

17th century body armour {kabuto helmet sold seperately} comprising full a cuirass {do}, of front and back plates, constructed of iron plates over lacquered and fully laced, and linked with chain mail.
Dangae dou (dō) meaning "step-changing" is a Japanese (samurai) chest armor that is a combination of two or more other styles. The main part of the dou (dō) may be an okegawa dou (dō), but the bottom two lames are laced (kebiki or sugake) instead of riveted or vice versa, or an armour is laced in sugake but the tateage and bottom lames are in kebiki.

Plus, steel chain mail and armour plate arm defences, inner lined with blue green material. The kabuto we show in photos 4 and 5, would compliment it beautifully, and for sale separately {code number 24030}.

During the Heian period (794-1185), the Japanese cuirass evolved into the more familiar style of armour worn by the samurai known as the dou or do. Japanese armour makers started to use leather (nerigawa) and lacquer was used to weather proof the armor parts. By the end of the Heian period the Japanese cuirass had arrived at the shape recognized as being distinctly samurai. Leather and or iron scales were used to construct samurai armours, with leather and eventually silk lace used to connect the individual scales (kozane) which these cuirasses were now being made from.

In the 16th century Japan began trading with Europe during what would become known as the Nanban trade. Samurai acquired European armour including the cuirass and comb morion which they modified and combined with domestic armour as it provided better protection from the newly introduced matchlock muskets known as Tanegashima. The introduction of the tanegashima by the Portuguese in 1543 changed the nature of warfare in Japan causing the Japanese armour makers to change the design of their armours from the centuries-old lamellar armours to plate armour constructed from iron and steel plates which was called tosei gusoku (new armours). Bullet resistant armours were developed called tameshi gusoku or (bullet tested) allowing samurai to continue wearing their armour despite the use of firearms. Please note the helmet is not with the armour. The silk lacing on the breast and back plate is 400 years old and very frayed throughout.

In Japan the term samurai evolved over several centuries

In Japanese, they are usually referred to as bushi (武士,) or buke (武家). According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning 'to wait upon', 'accompany persons' in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau. In both countries the terms were nominalized to mean 'those who serve in close attendance to the nobility', the Japanese term saburai being the nominal form of the verb." According to Wilson, an early reference to the word samurai appears in the Kokin Wakashū (905–914), the first imperial anthology of poems, completed in the first part of the 10th century.

Originally, the word samurai referred to anyone who served the emperor, the imperial family, or the imperial court nobility, even in a non-military capacity.It was not until the 17th century that the term gradually became a title for military servants of warrior families, so that, according to Michael Wert, "a warrior of elite stature in pre-seventeenth-century Japan would have been insulted to be called a 'samurai'".

In modern usage, bushi is often used as a synonym for samurai  read more

Code: 20178